Stripped Love (Guys Next Door Book 1)

by Baylin Crow

  When the credits rolled on the last movie, Archer cracked open his book.

  While he concentrated on filling in the dialogue to the completed parts of the graphics, I retrieved my notebook. Eyeing him as he delved into the story, my thoughts drifted to last night. I brought my pencil down on the page.

  ‘Unguarded moments stolen in the dark

  Layer by layer we came apart.’

  14

  Archer

  Phoenix and I had spent every night together for the last several days. When we had to separate for work, we traded text messages on breaks, and I was constantly checking the time until I could crawl back into bed with him. When our mouths and hands weren't busy, I found contentment in his arms I hadn't known I was missing.

  After our first time together and making things official between us, we’d discussed getting tested so I could take him bare and had even gone out to get it done. The thought of having him inside me that way had me on constant hormonal overload. Or horny as fuck, Phoenix would say right after claiming he’d created a monster. In a way, I guessed he had.

  I stood in my room getting dressed for the date Phoenix had planned for us. He'd told me to dress casually, so I pulled on a soft gray t-shirt over navy cargo shorts. My hair was a mess, and I briefly considered trying to tame the wavy disaster. But Phoenix usually rode with the windows down so I didn't bother.

  "Archer! Your boyfriend's here so stop making yourself pretty and get down here!" my uncle shouted from downstairs.

  "Coming," I yelled back. With one final look in the mirror, I quickly shoved my shoes on and grabbed my keys and wallet. I hadn't been on a date before, but I wasn't nervous. Only curious because Phoenix refused to tell me where we were going.

  Phoenix stood in front of Isaac in the living room, and I caught the tail end of their conversation as I approached.

  "Yeah, exactly, colorless to match the rest," Phoenix said and tugged me to his side where I wrapped an arm around his back and inhaled his scent. I couldn't get enough of the smell and feel of him.

  My uncle's eyes twinkled with amusement when Phoenix dropped a kiss onto my mussed hair. What he didn't see was the secret grope of my ass Phoenix snuck in. I stifled a laugh, and he apparently took that as permission to leave his hand there.

  Uncle Isaac nodded at whatever they'd been discussing, while stroking his salt and pepper beard. "I'll get something drawn up and we'll go from there. You kids have fun."

  "Sounds good," Phoenix said before leading me outside into the late morning sun.

  "What was that about?" I asked as I pulled the door closed behind us.

  "New ink. I was thinking about getting 'Archer' tattooed on my ass. Thoughts?" He shot me a crooked grin as we crossed the lawn to his car that was already running.

  I elbowed him, and he barked a laugh as we separated, splitting around the hood, and climbed in the car.

  As I clicked in my seatbelt, I glanced at Phoenix. "I don't think my uncle would feel comfortable with that. What are you really getting?"

  "Lightning," he said casually as he adjusted the air conditioner.

  "Lightning?" I frowned. "What do you mean?"

  He shrugged. "I asked him to work up a storm scene to put right here." He tapped his forearm. "Billowing dark clouds and a web of lightning streaking through them. Guess you could say I have a new appreciation for when Mother Nature gets pissed off." He winked and my cheeks burned hot.

  "You may as well just tattoo my name on your ass after all," I muttered, secretly flattered.

  "I can't help where I draw inspiration, Arch. But damn, it was inspiring." He bit his lip, eyelids heavy over the spark of heat in his stare.

  "Phoenix." I groaned and hid my flaming cheeks behind my hands.

  "What? You asked." He chuckled as he revved the engine and backed out onto the street.

  I lowered my hands and sighed, mostly to mask the ridiculous grin tugging at my lips. "Where are we going?"

  "You can keep asking, but I'm still not telling you," he chided again and pulled out of the neighborhood toward the highway.

  Phoenix shifted gears and raced up the on-ramp, merging with the constant heavy traffic that only grew denser the closer we got to the center of the city.

  As expected, the windows were down and my strands whipped across my forehead. Loud, but with slow melodies, rock music filtered through the speakers, and he only lowered the volume when he exited and slowed as we approached the stoplight.

  Scanning our surroundings, I tried to guess where we were headed at each turn he took.

  Phoenix easily navigated the tangle of streets, dodging construction and pausing at crosswalks. When he pulled into the parking garage across from a familiar building that read Georgia Aquarium, a smile split my lips.

  I loved aquariums but had never told him that. I had been to this one countless times and never missed a visit when there was a new exhibit added.

  "The Georgia Aquarium?" I asked in surprise.

  He parked the car and gave me an uncertain look. "I cheated and asked your uncle where you might want to go, but we can go somewhere else if you want. I know you're struggling with your storyline." He shrugged. "I thought it was a good idea. Maybe you could find some inspiration or something. Dumb idea?"

  A flutter filled my belly at the thoughtful gesture. "No, this is absolutely perfect. I just hadn't told you I loved them, so… thank you, Phoenix."

  He reached behind my neck, tugging me across the console. The first press of his lips to mine was a drug. Addiction at its finest. When I attempted to deepen the kiss, he chuckled and pulled away. "Play time later. It's time to get to work."

  He popped his door open, grabbed a green backpack from the cramped backseat and stepped out.

  With excitement pumping through my veins, I hopped out and met him in front of the car. We put both our phones and wallets in the pack. He wove his fingers through mine and walked by my side as we headed toward the double glass doors at the entrance.

  "Have you been here before?" I asked and glanced at him.

  While adjusting the straps over his shoulders, he shook his head. "Nope, I'm planning on you being my tour guide."

  After grabbing our tickets, I refused the map. Having visited multiple times, I knew exactly where I wanted to start. He laughed when I grabbed his hand, walking faster than usual as we wound around people and the smaller exhibits.

  "Where are we headed?" Phoenix asked from behind me.

  I flashed him a grin over my shoulder. "You'll see."

  Even someone who didn't typically enjoy the aquatic experience could appreciate our destination.

  I paused at the entrance to the tunnel. "This place is unbelievable. It's my absolute favorite part."

  "Then lead the way." He grinned and squeezed my hand.

  We stepped into the clear acrylic tunnel buried at the bottom of the massive tank. The temperature dropped, and the view surrounding us from all sides was pure beauty. It was like entering the middle of the sea, submerged beneath the waves where you could appreciate the wonders hidden below from every angle.

  I glanced at Phoenix who was lit with a light blue glow, like everyone else in the tunnel, to gauge his reaction as a twenty-five foot whale shark lazily swam overhead. His mouth dropped. "Holy shit."

  "Right? I love it here." I hummed in contentment when he wrapped an arm around my waist from behind as we claimed a free space by the glass. My attention bounced from the schools of smaller fish to the large and small manta rays. Sharks of various types and a giant grouper, among so many other sea creatures, swam in the expansive enclosure, creating a colorful, dizzying blend of pure magic.

  Phoenix jerked back when another whale shark swam close to the tunnel. Had the wall not been between us, we'd have been able to almost touch his spotted skin.

  I gripped Phoenix's arm banded around my waist and he leaned into me, propping his chin on top of my shoulder. "This is fucking amazing. I can see why you like it so much."

&
nbsp; "It doesn't matter how many times I visit. It never gets old," I admitted as I bathed in the comfort of his steady breathing pressed against my back.

  A huge sea turtle lazily swam by and checked us out.

  "You think these guys think we are the exhibits?" Phoenix asked.

  I shrugged and dragged him to a newly vacated spot where there was a better view. "Maybe they think we are just lowly air breathers. I'm starting to feel judged."

  His chest vibrated against my back as he chuckled.

  We stopped to study the ocean life for another fifteen minutes from several vantage points as we made our way through the tunnel.

  Once we reached the end, I led him around the vast building. From seahorses and alligators to sea otters and penguins, I drank in the sights. A warm glow bloomed in my chest when I peeked at Phoenix at each stop. He appeared thoroughly entranced, slowing us down to read each plaque.

  "How did I not know male seahorses carry the babies?" he wondered aloud.

  "They also eat them," I tacked on in case he didn’t know that either.

  He scowled in disgust. "That's morbid as hell. What the fuck, Arch? And here I was thinking that was amazing." He shuddered and tugged me away. "They are now my least favorite sea animal."

  I snorted. "Then you definitely don't want information on—"

  "You're done talking," he informed me, and a full belly laugh bubbled from my mouth. He shot me a boyish grin. "God, you're weird. Why do I love it so much?"

  My pulsed raced at the rhetorical question. I had no idea how I'd answer anyway, because the truth was, I had no idea why he did when it was the first time anyone had said something like that to me.

  "It's almost time," he said, interrupting my musings.

  My brows dipped. "For what?"

  "For your real surprise." His expression made it obvious he'd been waiting for it. A broad grin split his face and his hazel eyes sparkled with excitement. "We better grab something to eat because we'll be busy for the next couple of hours.”

  I couldn't take the suspense. My curiosity was bursting at the seams. "What is it?"

  “Isaac said you had never done this because you always come alone, but that you’d talked about it several times." He paused for dramatic effect, and all sorts of ideas swirled in my head. "I signed us up for the Beluga Interaction.”

  I stared at him in shocked disbelief as my breath caught. "Really?"

  "Really." He winked and grabbed my hand. "Let's go eat and then hop in the tank and pray we don't get eaten."

  I snorted. I was in more danger of being devoured by Phoenix than in the waist deep encounter with the gentle creatures. I tugged at his hand, drawing him close. Grabbing him by the neck, I closed the distance, pressing my lips to his. "Thank you for today."

  His expression sobered as he pulled back, staring down with an intensity that sent a shiver along my skin. "I'm starting to wonder if there's anything I wouldn't do for you, Arch."

  The scent of Phoenix's body wash filled the steamy bathroom as he bent me over the sink. Water dripped from my hair, rolling down my forehead and neck as his fingers dug into my hips. He hadn’t wasted any time once we’d gotten home from the aquarium to get me naked.

  His tip nudged my entrance, bare for the first time, and I whipped my hand forward to wipe the condensation from the mirror so I could watch him. He pressed forward, breaching my hole and his jaw clenched. "Fucking hell, I love your tight ass."

  Phoenix thrust forward, entering me with one slick slide. I gasped as my back arched and pleasure raced through my body. He stilled, eyes squeezed closed and nostrils flared. “Don’t move.”

  He’d been taunting me with his tongue and fingers long enough to have my body thrumming with need. Not moving wasn’t an option. Pushing against him, I urged him to fuck me.

  “Arch,” he warned. “Babe, you always feel great, perfect even, but this…” His gaze dipped to his bare cock in my ass, and his grip on me tightened. “I am not going to last.”

  “So, we’ll do it again,” I argued and not too proud to beg. “Please—”

  His gaze lit with fire in the reflection as he began pumping into me with frantic strokes, ripping ragged moans from my throat. I took everything he had to give me and demanded more. With the barrier gone, it was a first for us both, and I never wanted it to stop.

  Moans and groans echoed off the walls as his skin slapped against mine. Braced on my forearms, I reveled in the fullness of his cock filling me so completely.

  "More," I begged, rocking back to match his pace.

  "Fuck," he growled, tightening his grip in a bruising hold. "This what you want, Arch? My cock fucking your hole so hard you see fucking stars, babe?" His deep groan sent shivers down my spine. "You want me to drive you as fucking crazy as you drive me? You do, don't you?" He thrust harder, filthy words dripping from his lips.

  "Yes," I hissed as I took him deep over and over, ecstasy vibrating through my veins. "Please."

  He bent down, changing the angle and making me cry out. His mouth sucked and teeth nipped at my neck, stirring a moan from my throat. "You make me so hard I can't think straight. Want me to touch your cock? Hmm? Are you ready to come for me?"

  "Please touch me," I begged. My balls were already drawn tight and I knew I wouldn't last long, but he'd had me on edge for so long I needed the release more than I needed my next breath. His fingers curled around my shaft, stroking me in tight quick jerks. "I'm going to come."

  A loud moan traveled up my throat and he thrust into me impossibly harder. "Then come, Arch. Let me feel that sexy as fuck come dripping down my fingers as I fill your ass. I'm close."

  With his name on my lips, I cried out and my body spasmed. "Oh…god." My release crashed through my body, wrecking me with powerful rolling waves.

  "Yes. Fuck, yes." He released my cock and hammered into me with his mouth parted. I watched in fascination as Phoenix fell apart. He grunted each time he jerked forward, and he came with a deep rattling groan. His hips began a lazy roll as he milked himself into me until he was completely spent.

  Draping himself over me, Phoenix panted and pressed a kiss to my neck. "You're amazing. You know that?"

  "I could say the same about you." I met his half-lidded eyes in the mirror's reflection, a wash of drowsiness rushing through me.

  With one last kiss, he gently pulled out and stepped back. Phoenix stopped as he glanced down, parting my cheeks. He groaned and dragged his finger through the warm come I could feel dripping down my crease. Reluctantly his hand dropped away, and he guided me into the shower again where he turned the warm spray back on. "Let’s get cleaned up and get you in bed. It's been a long day."

  "It's been the best day," I countered and took the body wash from the shelf.

  "It really has," he agreed and snagged the bottle from me, squirting a generous amount onto his palm. He washed himself and then me again before running the soap over my aching hole in gentle circles, pressing a single fingertip inside. He groaned. “You have no idea how fucking hot it is to see my come leaking from your ass.”

  "Phoenix," I whispered and gripped his arms to steady myself as he slipped the entire finger inside.

  He chuckled and pulled out. "You're insatiable." I grinned and he switched off the water. "But you're also tired."

  I couldn't argue with that. My body had grown heavy with fatigue and curling up with Phoenix in bed sounded euphoric.

  He led me out of the shower and grabbed two towels from the shelf. After we'd dried off, we stumbled to his room, and once the comforter was pulled back, tumbled onto the soft mattress.

  As we settled, I tangled my legs with his and kissed his chest. "You make me happy."

  His finger dipped under my chin, directing me to look at him. "You make me happy too, Arch. For the first time in a long time, I look forward to the next day when I can open my eyes and discover you all over again. Every day feels brand new with endless possibilities."

  A lump wedged in my throat. "W
hy do you always have to one-up me?"

  He flashed a lopsided grin. "I'm just being honest. Now go to bed."

  I snuggled closer, resting my head where my lips had been.

  He shivered. "New rule. You blow-dry your hair before bed."

  "Next time," I mumbled. "Need sleep."

  His chest rumbled with laughter beneath my cheek and a dopey smile tipped my lips. "Night, Phoenix."

  "Night, Arch."

  15

  Archer

  The shop was slow for once, and I spent the free time restocking and cleaning the jewelry cases. The low buzz of the tattoo machines and the guys talking to their clients mingled with the electric guitar solo echoing from the speakers.

  My uncle was working on a man who barely fit in the chair thanks to the muscles on top of muscles bulging from his stocky body. Will had a middle-aged woman with blonde hair getting her first tattoo, a small infinity symbol on her wrist.

  And then there was Dylan, who was currently bugging me.

  "Just one piercing," he said from beside me as I closed the case containing the aftercare and locked it. "You can choose where, but I think you'd look hot with a lip ring."

  "You can keep pushing, but it isn't going to happen." My nose wrinkled as I turned to face him. He leaned against the side of the desk, hip propped near the register, crossing his full-sleeve inked arms over his chest.

  "Eyebrow?" He wiggled his eyebrows that had three barbells through one and a hoop through the other.

  "Pass." I leaned over the glass counter and hollered over the noise. "Uncle Isaac, can you please tell Dylan to stop harassing me about getting a piercing! Again!"

  My uncle's chair rolled back from behind the wall, gloves on and holding the equipment. His gaze flicked between us and he smirked. "How about a tattoo? We could always do a little gear piece to match your boyfriend’s. Or maybe a swallow to match the ones I did on his arms?"